Tribit FlyBuds C1 Earbuds Review

The Tribit FlyBuds C1 earbuds came out a couple of years ago, launching at around £60, but they are currently priced well into the budget end at £40.

They feature the entry-level Qualcomm QCC3040 audio chipset, allowing them to use the superior aptX codec.

Specification

• Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3040
• Driver Diameter: 6 mm
• Calls: 4 Mics ENC and CVC 8.0 Technology
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 48000 Hz
• Bluetooth Version: 5.2
• Supported Codecs: aptX, AAC, SBC
• IP Rating: IPX5
• Battery Life: 12 hours play time, 50 hours with case

Design

The basic design of these is largely the same as most earbuds out there. A plain plastic case with a stem-style earbud.

Unusually, these have a small physical button for control. I actually prefer this as I am constantly pausing music whenever I adjust my earbuds if they are touch-sensitive.

The earbud design has some nice red embellishments, but I am largely indifferent to the way an earbud looks.

You get six pairs of eartips in total which is better than average, but there is not a great deal of variation between the sizes. It looks like there are just three size options.

I always need the larger size, and I found that the fit was good, I was able to get a good seal, and these remain in place whenever I use them for running or weight lifting.

Sound Quality

The packaging of these earbuds doesn’t indicate that they work with the Tribit app, but they do. When I first connected to the app, I was not able to use the EQ, but after a firmware update, this became available.

Out-of-the-box performance is good, considering the price point. I personally found that the sound was lacking in bass when I first started using these, but they did seem to warm up after a few hours of use.

I have noticed other people comment that these are on the warmer side with noticeably deeper bass and low end. I wouldn’t say that is my experience at all.

The sound quality did grow on me, though, and I think with the trend of affordable Chinese brands opting for very bass-forward sound profiles, these may be quite appealing to a lot of buyers as an alternative option.

Treble is perhaps a touch higher than I’d like, but I am quite sensitive to it. However, it wasn’t too harsh or simblant at moderate volumes.

With the out-of-box EQ, I found they provided a good amount of detail, and I found myself enjoying listening to these when I was walking around listening to music at moderate volumes (vs in the gym when I want something more energetic).

Once I was able to adjust the EQ, I could select the bass preset, which brought out the low end a bit more, but it did seem to recess the mids a bit too much. I think with a bit of tweaking, you can find an EQ that will suit your tastes.

Call Quality

Utilising a 4-microphone ENC and CVC 8.0 technology, these earbuds claim to diminish ambient noise by up to 90%, according to Tribit.

I attempted several calls and voices were discernible and accurately replicated. However, during these calls, the active noise cancellation system was somewhat limited, allowing a few ambient noises to permeate.

Battery Life

One of the selling points of these earbuds is their exceptional battery life. Tribit claims that you will get up to 12 hours of playback and 50 or 60 hours with the case (Tribit doesn’t seem to know as they state both figures).

One reason why the battery life is so good is that these lack ANC, but even so, if you look at competing options, the figures they quote for when the ANC is off are normally much lower than these, typically around 8 or 9 hours.

For fitness and walks, the longest I have worn these in one session is 4 or 5 hours, and they easily lasted.

Price and Alternative Options

The Tribit FlyBuds C1 have an RRP of £70, but at the time of writing, Amazon have a £30 voucher available, making them £40, and this seems to be the price they are available for frequently.

There is the FlyBuds C1 Pro with an RRP of £100 and regularly around £80. These add on ANC, and I would assume superior sound quality.

The Tribit FlyBuds C2 have an RRP of £60 but are available for £30, and these use an AirPod style open-fit design.

I haven’t reviewed anything this affordable in a while, but the Edifier TWS1 Pro are good which are available for around £56 with the on-page discount.

The  EarFun Air Pro 2 might be the best alternative I have used, which is available for around £48 and include ANC.

Overall

I think the Tribit FlyBuds C1 are good earbuds that provide good sound quality for the price you pay.

I am glad they now have the Tribit app and its EQ. It doesn’t make a huge difference to the sound quality, but it does allow you to tweak the settings more to your personal preferences.

I found them comfortable to wear, and the battery life is superb, so these could make good fitness earbuds.

While I think they are good earbuds, it is hard to ignore all the other great affordable earbuds at similar price points. In particular, the  EarFun Air Pro 2 are just £8 more, and the newer EarFun Air Pro 3 are £16 more. Both of these have ANC, more microphones for improved call quality and larger drivers. The Air Pro 3 also have wireless charging.

Last update on 2023-08-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API